Apparatus for cleaning of spotted fabrics



May 23, 1967 R. o. FRAHM 3,320,780

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING OF SPOTTED FABRICS Filed. Nov. 16, 1964 'uuu J j 30 20 IN VENTOR RICHARD o. FRAHM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,320,780 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING 0F SPOTTED FABRICS Richard 0. Frahm, 2480 16th St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20009 Filed Nov. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 411,220 7 Ciaims. (Ci. 68-240) This invention relates to fabric cleaning and particularly but not exclusively to spotting apparatus adapted for use in self-service dry cleaning and laundering establishments, as well as in professional cleaning plants.

In the self-service as well as the commercial laundering and dry cleaning industry the principal cleaning operation effects only the overall treatment of the garment or other fabric article. However, when there are individual spots or stains in the fabric which are stubborn and do not respond to the overall treatment, the soiled or stained spots may need individual treatment with special solvents. In commercial operations, skilled spotters are employed who apply various cleaning fluids to the spots guided by their judgment based on experience as to the nature of the spots and the chemicals which may remove them. However, in self-service establishments there has been no satisfactory way in which an unskilled person could properly judge what solvent or chemical to apply or how to use it.

The variety, even of the most common spots, requires a variety of chemicals for treatment. An organic solvent, such as carbon tetrachloride, may remove greasy stains, but such organic solvent is ineffective for the removal of fruit, sugar, or other water soluble stains. There are also stains which are neither oil nor water soluble, such as iodine, ink, rust and the like, requiring special chemicals to remove them. Some spots or stains, through aging, may have hardened to the point where their removal is difficult, if not impossible, by ordinary methods.

By the use of the present invention it is possible, even for an unskilled person, to efliciently effect the spotting operation without risk of damaging the fabric, merely by reading and following simple short instructions correlated with the spotting apparatus of this invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide simple, effective aids particularly, but not exclusively, adapted for use in laundering and dry cleaning establishments, whereby one may pre-spot garments effectively with little or no prior training and experience.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for facilitating spotting operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a color code correlation between the apparatus and the types of stains usually encountered, for guiding the unskilled person to the use of the proper spotting fluids for the types of stains concerned.

Another object is to provide apparatus suitable for practicing a useful method for reducing the formation of rings in the cleaning of spotted fabrics.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and following description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

In general, the invention provides an apparatus of the cabinet type, housing containers for the different chemical solutions required for spotting with means for delivering the same under pressure to individual spray guns conveniently related to a garment or fabric supporting surface or spotting table, a method of color coding the respective spray guns to color characteristics of the types of spots concerned, and means suitable for use in practicing a method of reducing the formation of rings in dry cleaning operations, details of which will be apparent from the following description of the illustrative em- "ice bodiment of the invention, wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spotting equipment embodying features of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the equipment of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane 4-4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a cabinet 10 shown as mounted on castors 10a, and having a hollow base section 11 provided with an upper surface 12 for supporting and displaying the garment or fabric to be cleaned. Attached to the base section 11 is a hollow column section 13 extending upwardly from and supported by said base section 11 and communicating therewith. On top of the column section 13 there is a head section 14 also hollow and communicating with the said hollow column section 13. The head section 14 extends forwardly over and above the upper surface 12 of said base section 11, and in spaced relation thereto.

In the illustrative embodiment means is provided for illuminating the upper surface 12 of said base section 11, shown as comprising flood light fixtures 15 mounted in recesses in the under side of said head section 14, and shown as energized from a commercial power source via appliance cord 16 controlled by switch means 17, mounted on the side of said head section 14 of the cabinet 10.

The cabinet base section 11 is designed to house and conceal a plurality of receptacles 20 for containing, respectively, the several cleaning fluids for use in the spotting operation. The base section 11 in the form shown also houses an air compressor 21 connected to the receptacles by suitable conduits having cut-off and vent valves 22 and energized by a pressure controlled switch (not shown) for providing and maintaining pressure in the receptacles, and to facilitate refilling of the individual receptacles through their pressure tight removable top closures.

The receptacles 20 are provided with outlets adjacent the bottoms thereof to which delivery conduit means 24 are attached. These delivery conduit means are provided separately for each receptacle and extend upwardly through the hollow column section 13 of the cabinet and through the head section 14 for providing communication between the receptacles 20 and spray guns 25 attached to the respective conduits at their free ends, which are adapted to be operated to effect spraying of the cleaning solutions through the nozzles of the guns, respectively. The conduit means 24 are guided for longitudinal movement in said head section by suitably positioned means shown as rollers 26 mounted to extend transversely of the head section 14 of the cabinet, and the free ends thereof extend through apertures 27 in the lower portion of said head section 14, through which apertures 27 they are extensible and retractable to position the spray nozzles close to the fabric for the spotting operation and close to the said head portion 14 when not in use.

The longitudinal movements of the delivery conduits 24 are controlled by individual spring means 30 attached to the respective conduit means 24 to provide for extension and retraction thereof through said apertures 27 in the lower surface of the upper section 14 of the cabinet 10. In the illustrative embodiment, the spring means 30 comprises respective tension spring elements connected between the bottom of the cabinet 10 and attaching means 32 provided at portions of the conduits 24 which move upwardly and downwardly in the column portion 13 of the cabinet 10 when the spray guns 25 are pulled to their extended positions, illustrated at 25' in broken lines in 3 'IG. 3, and returned to their retracted positions adjaent the apertures 27. These apertures 27 may be lined Iith suitable friction reducing grommets, if desired. Stop lElIlS may be provided for preventing excessive withi, that the garment and/ or spots should be brushed before spotting (as by use of a brush chainedto the cabinet, for example); that if necessary the spot may be rubbed in a manner provided for; and finally, to obtain the full bene- .rawa1 of the conduits 24 through the apertures 27, 5 fit of the invention, that in spotting fabrics to be dryreferably in the form of a tube coupling means 33 cleaned every spotting operation should be finished up by FIG. 3) adapted to join together a portion of the tube saturating the area treated with fluid from the blue gun 4 which moves through the aperture 27, and the re (to guard against the formation of rings) before the fabaainder of the tube 24 which is not exposed to friction ric is subjected to the general dry cleaning operation, as nd handling. The coupling means 33 can thus act as a in a coin operated dry cleaning drum using perchlorotop element and also provide for replacement of the ethylene for example. ortions of the tubes 24 adjacent the spray guns 25 With- It will be apparent that by simply spreading the garut replacement of the entire lengths of the tubes. It will mentor fabric on the illuminated upper surface of the e appreciated that the arrangement of the spring means base portion, and following the simple color coded instruc- 0 as shown allows relatively long spring elements to be tions, even an unskilled person can readily apply the sed which do not exert an undue increase in tension on proper fluids for the types of spots concerned, can avoid he conduits 24 when the nozzles are moved to fully eX- the formationof rings, and with the relatively mild and ended position. The biasing of the conduits 24 toward harmless solutions provided, can remove most spots'with etracted position can be effected in other ways, for eX- a minimum of danger of injury to the garment or the ,mple by weights attached to the attaching means 32 in persons. Especially for self-service use, the stop means ion of the springs, but the spring means is preferred as 33 are preferably so positioned as to prevent the spray t can be adjusted to produce only a relatively small tengun from reaching a level below the upper surface 12 of ion force in the conduit means 24 when retracted as the base section 11 of the cabinet, to insure that they do hown in FIG .3. not fall within the reach of young children. The fluid In the illustrative embodiment six pressure reservoirs 25 dispensed by the blue gun is preferably termed a neu- 10 are provided (FIG. 4) each connected to a different tralizer as such terminology psychologically disposes pray gun 25 (FIGS. 1 and 2), and each spray gun 25 is the customer to follow the directions for its use. The .oded in a manner to correlate the fluid discharge therespray guns 25 are preferably of the finger-tip controlled rom with a particular class of spot producing material type to facilitate their use. The cabinet and other ex- 0 be acted upon in the spotting operation. In the illusposed parts, may be formed of any suitable material, rative embodiment this coding is effected by providing preferably metal or wood or other material not attacked in each conduit 24, adjacent its spray gun 25, a colored by the cleaning fluids employed, and the flexible conduits leeve or ball 40, the color of which is correllated in a may be of rubber or the like. nanner facilitating selection of the proper treating fluid While there have been described herein what are at or application to a particular situation. present considered preferred embodiments of the inven- Thus, viewed from left to right as seen in FIGS. 1 and tion, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that l, the balls may be, and preferably are, colored as .folmodifications and changes may be made without departing ows: white, black, tan, yellow, red and blue, and these from the essence of the invention. It is therefore to be :olors are preferably correlated with the materials to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illusreated and with the fluids contained in the pressure rctrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of :eptacle 20, as set forthin Table A herein: which is defined in the appended claims, and that all TABLE A (1) Gun Color For treatment of stains from- Sprays appropriate spotting fluid More particularly (about) Vhite Sugar, cake, candy and generally sweet stains (which Water and surfactant solution.-. 98% water, 2% neutral surfactant.

usually appear whitish if brushed or scratched). ilack Grime and general ground in soil (which usually has Water, perchloroethylene, dewater, 45% perc., 5% mutual solvent,

a blackish appearance). tergent, and water soluble 5% detergent.

organic solvent.

Tan Albumin, perspiration, milk, chocolate, egg, blood, Water, ammonia, compatible sur- 85% water, 10% ammonia, 5% neutral sur vomit, body discharges, etc. (which usually have factant (pcnetrant). factant (e.g.n011ionic and/or anionic). a brownisn appearance). I allow Tannin, coffee, tea, fruit juice, liquor, grass, mus- Water, mild acid, compatible 85% water, 10% acetic acid, 5% neutral tard, and the like (which usually have a yellowsurfactant (penetrant). surfactant (Le. nonionio and/or cati ish or greenish appearance). onic). led Lipstick, cosmetics, paint, grease, ballpoint pen ink, Amyl acetate, oil, and dry clean 20% Amyl acetate, 5% mineral oil, 75%

resin, plastics, and the like (of which the commoning fluid. perchloroethylene. est are reddish or strongly colored).

3luc (Neutralizer) used on spot previously treated with Water soluble organic solvent Ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether or dianother gun, to obviate the appearance of rings ethylene glycol monomethyl other. when the spotted fabric is subjected to overall cleaning, e.g. in perchloroethylcne.

The'ta'bulations of columns (1) and (2) of Table A nay be suitably displayed, as by chart located on the front of the head portion 14 of the cabinet, together with supplemental instructions, e.g. precautions to be observed with especially perishable fabrics; that for removal of ink and dye stains one should first use the fluid from the tan gun, followed by the fluid from the yellow gun, if necesaary; that the garments should be spot cleaned before being subjected to the uniform overall machine cleaning;

modifications that come within the meaning and range,

tending upwardly from and communicating with said hollow base section, and

(c) said cabinet having a hollow head section communicating with said column section and extending therefrom over the said upper surface of said base section in spaced relation thereto,

(d) said cabinet comprising means for illuminating said upper surface of said base section, said means being mounted in the under-side of said hollow head section,

(e) a plurality of pressure receptacles for spotting fluids housed in said base section,

(f) delivery conduit means for said receptacles communicating therewith adjacent the bottoms thereof, said delivery conduit means having retractable portions and extending upwardly through said column section and being guided for longitudinal movement in said head section and extending through apertures in the lower portion of said head section and being extensible and retractable through said apertures,

(g) a spray gun at the free end of each of said conduit means adapted to be operated to effect spraying of the spotting fluid contained in the receptacle associated therewith onto a selected portion of a fabric displayed on said upper surface of said base portion of said cabinet, and

(h) means within said cabinet for retracting each of said conduits to dispose its spray gun in a position close to the underside of said head section when not in use.

2. Spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for illuminating said upper surface comprises electric flood light means mounted in recesses in said hollow head section.

3. Spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for maintaining said receptacles under pressure, said last named means comprising an air compressor disposed in the base section of said cabinet and having a pressure responsive control switch, said compressor communicating with each of said receptacles by the way of an individually valved flexible conduit means.

4. Spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for retracting said delivery conduit means comprises spring elements anchored at one end to the lower portion of said base section and extensible vertically into said column section and having their upper ends attached to said flexible conduits in a position tr retract the same.

5. In a spotting apparatus the combination compris ing: a cabinet for housing said apparatus, said cabine having a base section, a column section and a head section said sections being hollow and in communication witl each other and said base section having a table top; 2 plurality of pressure receptacles for storing specific spot ting fluids for use in removing specific stains and spots a plurality of flexible conduits adapted to convey anc dispense said specific spotting fluids and to discharge the same onto soiled or stained fabrics positioned on saic table top, the nature of the stain or soil determining the specific spotting fluid to be applied thereto, said Conduits being housed in the hollow portions of the cabinet and being extensible partly therefrom when in use, a spray gun attached to the end of each of said flexible conduits. said gun of each conduit being marked with a specific color assigned to the specific spotting fluid to be discharged therethrough.

6. A spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, whereir the specific colors with which the spray guns are marked and the specific spotting fluids discharged therethrough are correlated with the specific character of the spots tc be encountered according to columns (1), (2) and (3) 01 Table A of the foregoing specification, and wherein the apparatus includes an instruction chart setting forth for the guidance of the user the correlations of columns (1) and (2) of said Table A.

7. A spotting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said chart further sets forth the instruction that for removal of ink and dye stains the fluids dispensed by the tan and yellow guns are to be used in sequence.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,295,718 9/1942 Dahlberg 68-240 X 2,434,404 1/1948 Goodwin 68240 2,444,728 7/1948 Castoe 68240 X 2,670,621 3/1954 Glover 68240 X 2,686,694 8/1954 Freeman 68-240 X FOREIGN PATENTS 536,763 12/1955 Italy.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SPOTTING APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A CABINET HAVING A HOLLOW BASE SECTION PROVIDED WITH AN UPPER SURFACE FOR SUPPORTING THE FABRIC TO BE CLEANED, (B) SAID CABINET HAVING A HOLLOW COLUMN SECTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOLLOW BASE SECTION, AND (C) SAID CABINET HAVING A HOLLOW HEAD SECTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID COLUMN SECTION AND EXTENDING THEREFROM OVER THE SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BASE SECTION IN SPACED RELATION THERETO, (D) SAID CABINET COMPRISING MEANS FOR ILLUMINATING SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BASE SECTION, SAID MEANS BEING MOUNTED IN THE UNDER-SIDE OF SAID HOLLOW HEAD SECTION, (E) A PLURALITY OF PRESSURE RECEPTACLES FOR SPOTTING FLUIDS HOUSED IN SAID BASE SECTION, 